SUICIDE PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS: STATE LAWS AND SCHOOL POLICY Nicole Gibson, Manager of State Advocacy and Grassroots Outreach, AFSP Alison Gill, Government Affairs Director, The Trevor Project

“GET INTO THE SCHOOLS” IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES  State laws and school policies can impact a school’s willingness and ability to address suicide prevention and mental health with students and educators

THIS SESSION WILL HELP ADVOCATES/CHAPTERS TO:  Understand the state laws and school district policies that impact suicide prevention in your local schools  Learn how existing laws and policies can help or hinder your efforts to work with schools and utilize AFSP programs and resources  Learn about and how to use a brand new resource: Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention  Influence state law and school district policy changes

LEGISLATION / STATE LAWS  Suicide prevention in schools is influenced by state laws that:  Require or encourage suicide prevention training for educators  Require or encourage suicide prevention and or mental health education for students  Require or encourage school district policies on suicide prevention  …and other unique laws  AFSP Chapters and Field Advocates have influenced proposed laws, or “legislation” that address all of these areas

AFSP RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS  More than Sad: Teen Depression  Available through local Chapters and for purchase online  More than Sad: Suicide Prevention Education for School Personnel  Available through local Chapters and for purchase online  After a Suicide: A Resource for Schools  Free download from

NEW RESOURCE: Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention  Available online at  Collaborative effort with:  American School Counselors Association  National Association of School Psychologists  The Trevor Project  Includes model policy language for schools on preventing, assessing the risk of, intervening in, and responding to youth suicidal behavior  Also includes commentary and resources

Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention A LISON G ILL, E SQ. Government Affairs Director The Trevor Project

Background of the Model

Model School District Policy Model was developed as a tool for school staff, school board members, advocates, parents, and students to develop and implement comprehensive school district policies on suicide prevention Employing language from strong local policies throughout the country and the expertise of contributing groups, the model is comprehensive yet modular School districts may use to draft new or amend their own district policies based on the district’s unique needs

Drafting Groups

Next Steps for the Model Working with partner organizations to promote the model in states across the country Goal is to pass the model in key school districts, and then others will follow Several gatekeeper training bills are being written to require school districts to have a similar policy Ideally, we would like to see these types of policies as a standard in school districts

Model Policy Components

General Provisions The Model includes: Sidebars containing information and guidance including: – Parental involvement –At-risk groups –Bullying and suicide –Communicating about suicide A purpose, general definitions relating to suicide prevention, and the scope of the policy.

Prevention The policy requires: Designation of suicide prevention coordinators at the district and school level to help implement and be points of contact Annual professional development for staff on warning signs and how to respond, with specific attention to at-risk populations such as LGBTQ youth Additional training for school employed mental health professionals Developmentally appropriate content for students included in health curriculum

Intervention Procedure for assessment and referral for at-risk youth Procedures for handling in-school suicide attempts and out of school suicide attempts Re-entry procedure for students returning after mental health crisis Section on parental notification and involvement

Postvention Procedures for the crisis team to follow after they become aware of a suicide death Focus on properly handling interactions with the family, communication with the community, and avoiding risk of suicide contagion Plan for facilitation external communication with media, etc., in a way that is responsible

Resources Assortment of resources provided, including: –Toolkits and guides on prevention –Relevant research –School programs –Crisis services –Guides on working with media Sample simplified version of policy for student handbooks

HOW CAN WE USE THE MODEL POLICY?  Part of larger school resource package that can be provided to schools  Conversation starter in states with no existing laws or where you’d like to strengthen an existing law  Resource for states that currently require school district policies as part of state law

INFLUENCING STATE LAW/SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY CHANGES  As Field Advocate and Chapter Volunteers, you can work with the AFSP Public Policy Office and your local AFSP Chapter to:  Propose a new state law  Amend an existing state law  Propose a new school district policy  Amend an existing school district policy

HOW DO I GET STARTED?  Lay the groundwork with local schools  Decide which elected officials/potential partners to approach  Build a coalition of supporters  Ask the AFSP Public Policy Office to help!

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS Immediately work toward developing strong working relationships with the following:  State department/board of education  Professional associations (teachers, psychologists, counselors, social workers, administrators, nurses)  Parent-teacher associations  Local school boards  Other nonprofits/state agencies that have a presence in your local schools

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS Engage local schools by providing resources proactively and also on an as-needed basis:  Donate resources  Host educational events for school personnel/students  SC Chapter example – Suicide Prevention Institutes  UT Chapter example – collaborative training video  Invite schools to participate in local AFSP events  Offer to staff an AFSP table at school events  Help schools construct and update community resource lists

BUILD A COALITION OF SUPPORTERS  Effective advocates BUILD and MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS with:  Elected officials  Community “movers and shakers” and opinion leaders  Partner with community groups and nonprofit organizations (both large and small, formal and informal):  Suicide Prevention  LGBTQ  Mental Health  Education  Disabilities  Human Rights  First Responders  Local media

WHICH ELECTED OFFICIALS DO I APPROACH?  Chief State School Officer  State Superintendent/Commissioner/Secretary of Education  Governor  In some states, the Governor leads the State Board of Education and or appoints members  Legislators:  Senate/House Education Committee leadership (Chair/Vice-Chair)  Senate/House Education Committee staff  Your own Senator/Representative  Senators/Representatives you or your fellow Chapter volunteers, friends, relatives, or coworkers have a relationship with

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER PRIOR TO APPROACHING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OR POTENTIAL PARTNER  What current law(s) and or policies are in place?  What is the state/school/district currently doing to address suicide prevention and mental health? Are there gaps, and if so, what are they? According to whom?  What solution am I offering?  What time/effort/cost will be associated with my solution?  Who else supports this solution? What are they willing/able to contribute, if anything?  Who have I approached that is against this solution, if anyone, and why?

HOW THE POLICY OFFICE CAN HELP  Know and can provide your state law(s)  Can guide you in which elected officials/potential partners to approach, and how  Can help you prepare for meetings with elected officials/potential partners – what to say, what to bring  Can provide follow-up when elected officials/potential partners have questions or need additional information  Can connect you with other volunteers who have done this before  …and other needed support or advice!

NICOLE GIBSON, MSW AFSP MANAGER OF STATE ADVOCACY & GRASSROOTS OUTREACH EXT. 105 QUESTIONS? ALISON GILL, ESQ GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR THE TREVOR PROJECT